| Strike one! Strike two! Strike three! | | | | hands in the outfield and who is likely to |
| | | | win a Gold Glove. Focus your attention on the |
| Baseball! America\'s Pastime, and a sport | | | | stars as they most likely will make the best |
| growing in popularity throughout the world, | | | | photographs, but don\'t be so drawn to |
| where the Boys of Summer slug it out. A | | | | celebrity that you miss a role player making |
| baseball game is the perfect way to spend a | | | | a crucial steal or diving catch that wins the |
| lazy summer afternoon, plus it provides | | | | game for their team! |
| opportunities to take photos that last a | | | | |
| lifetime. | | | | 7) When the opening lineup starts, look at |
| | | | the dugout. If you\'re rooting for the home |
| While many claim the sport of baseball is a | | | | team, the beginning of the game is a great |
| slow-paced affair, when action does occur, it | | | | time to get player photographs as they are |
| can happen very swiftly, almost too fast for | | | | running out onto the field. If not, take |
| an unskilled photographer to shoot the photos | | | | photographs during the middle of the inning. |
| they desire. Baseballs fly quickly when hit | | | | If you don\'t get the perfect photo, delete |
| or thrown, and timing the action for when to | | | | bad photographs during lull times and try |
| take a digital photograph requires | | | | later during the game. |
| split-second reflexes. Thus, before you plan | | | | |
| on taking photos at a baseball game, you may | | | | 8) To take a picture of a swinging batter |
| wish to read the following advice: | | | | that will last a lifetime, do the following: |
| | | | |
| 1) First, make sure you are allowed to bring | | | | *) Preparation is the key. First, before the |
| your digital camera to the baseball game. | | | | game, know how to operate your digital |
| Some ballparks have no restrictions, others | | | | camera. Practice focusing the camera and |
| on the zoom length, some on using flash, and | | | | quickly deleting unused photos - sometimes |
| some may not allow you into the baseball game | | | | you can delete an unwanted photo before it is |
| at all with your camera! | | | | completely saved to the camera\'s memory. |
| | | | |
| 2) Change your camera settings to take the | | | | *) Before the pitch, focus your viewfinder on |
| quickest photographs possible while still | | | | the batter\'s box and try not to cut out any |
| providing plenty of light for the photograph. | | | | of the batter\'s body. Zoom in as |
| You\'ll need to read your camera\'s manual on | | | | appropriate, but remember the more you zoom |
| how to change these settings; for example, | | | | in, the slower the potential shutter speed |
| consider saving photos as JPG instead of RAW | | | | needed to take a clear photo. |
| to take photos faster. | | | | |
| | | | *) Anticipate shutter lag. Lock your focus |
| Just remember that the quicker the shutter | | | | before the pitch; this usually is done by |
| speed, the less light enters the camera to | | | | pressing the shutter button down half-way. |
| take the picture. Thus, you\'ll need to | | | | |
| compromise picture speed and the amount of | | | | *) Time it... time it... then as soon as the |
| light to take great photos. That is why | | | | ball is about to hit the bat, press down |
| baseball games work well with photography - | | | | fully on the shutter button. |
| many games are played on sunny days or in | | | | |
| well-lit domes or stadiums that allow you to | | | | *) If the pitch is a strike or the swing is |
| take crisp, high-action photos. | | | | not one to be remembered, cancel the save so |
| | | | your picture is not written to memory. This |
| 3) Before going to a big league ballpark, | | | | way, you can save room for other photos. |
| make sure you know the rules and nuances of | | | | |
| the game. Practice taking photos at a | | | | 9) Look around for photo opportunities not |
| minor-league, college, or high school | | | | directly related to the action. Take a |
| baseball game. The stakes aren\'t quite as | | | | photograph of the grounds crew cleaning the |
| high if you miss a shot, and taking your | | | | bases and raking the dirt between innings. |
| camera to a game will give you more insight | | | | Get a few shots of the crowd. Take a picture |
| into when action occurs and when players just | | | | of the scoreboard. Look at the surrounding |
| stand around. | | | | area. If you want to remember the full |
| | | | experience of a baseball game years from now, |
| 4) Have extra batteries and digital camera | | | | you should take advantage of one of the best |
| memory handy and practice switching both out | | | | features of a digital camera - the ability to |
| quickly before the game! A three and a half | | | | take lots and lots of photographs - and shoot |
| hour game can put a tremendous strain on even | | | | photographs showcasing the FULL baseball |
| the most power-miserly camera, and more often | | | | experience. |
| than not you will have to switch out power or | | | | |
| memory in the middle of an inning. | | | | 10) Take a break during the game! You came to |
| | | | the baseball game to enjoy the spectacle, not |
| 5) Don\'t worry if you miss a shot! Unless | | | | just to take pictures, right? Designate a few |
| you have tons of digital camera memory, you | | | | innings as photo-free time where you just sit |
| may not be able to continuously shoot | | | | back, munch on a hot dog, drink a soda, and |
| photograph after photograph. If you miss a | | | | soak in the environment. |
| key pitch, the swing of a bat, or a forced | | | | |
| out, don\'t get angry! More often than not, | | | | Remember to study your digital camera manual |
| new opportunities will arise for great | | | | first and practice, practice, practice! |
| photographs. | | | | Follow these ten tips and you\'ll be on your |
| | | | way to taking \"home run\" baseball |
| 6) Study the lineup first. Know who are the | | | | photographs in no time. |
| key players and those who barely know how to | | | | |
| swing a bat. Likewise, learn who has loose | | | | Copyright 2005 Andrew Malek. |